English, BA

Why YOU Should Study Abroad

With a diverse set of students and interests, the Department of English seeks to work with all students to create an international experience that meets their individual needs and goals. In addition to providing a once in a lifetime opportunity, study abroad programs also offer our students the chance to build their skills in a unique environment that stands out in the job market long after graduation.

Develop critical teamwork and problem solving skills as they interact with others in an international setting;

Challenge themselves to adapt and persevere under sometimes difficult social and cultural circumstances;

Expand their knowledge of the liberal arts through the lense of different cultures and histories;

Network with students, faculty, and community members internationally with similar interests and goals;

Enhancing their portfolio of experience through unique hands-on research and community-based opportunities.

A Message from the Department of English

“When I was college senior, I was given the chance to participate in a summer abroad program—three summer months in a tent in the Sinai desert excavating an Old Testament city—and the experience changed my life as my views began an expansion that continues to this day...Having experienced the benefits of such study and having seen the same expansion of view take hold in my own students, I remain committed to creating opportunities to enhance learning through the wider world and its diverse people.”

- Dr. Mark Lussier, Professor and former chair, Department of English

Planning Your Program

When to study abroad

When to study abroad

With advance planning, you should be able to fit study abroad within your four years at ASU. When and where you decide to study abroad will depend on your concentration and individual goals. We look forward to working with all students to find the best fit possible.

Year

Term

Recommended Student Action

Year 1

Spring

Begin thinking of study abroad possibilities such as:

Completing second language abroad

Working at an internship abroad

Exploring a location or academic area you are especially interested in

Year 2

Optimal year to study abroad

Fall

Identify a spring/summer study abroad program focused on your interests and needs

General Advice

General Advice

Advice from the Department of English

The Department of English assists students in preparing for their future career or graduate school experience by offering opportunities abroad. This might include internships, advanced studies in Film and Media, language study, or completing electives abroad. We have many opportunities for our ASU Online students as well. We recommend each student speak with advising about their needs and goals for study abroad in their first year to begin setting up the process for choosing the right program at the right time.

Advice from the Study Abroad Office

Be sure to view the list of recommended steps for getting started on your study abroad journey.

Attend a Study Abroad 101 info session to get all the basic information from a Study Abroad Student Recruiter on program types, eligibility, housing, finances, searching for and choosing a program and the application process. Discover times and locations.

Attend a Financing Your Study Abroad workshop to get information on program fees and deadlines, how financial aid can apply to study abroad, how to utilize community-based funding and tips on finding and applying for study abroad scholarships. Discover times and locations.

Key questions to ask

How many upper-division credits do I still need to complete for my degree?

How many elective credits (lower vs. upper division) do I have left to complete my major?

What remaining prerequisites must I fulfill, and how will study abroad impact my progress?

Which of my remaining degree requirements could I complete abroad? Are there any that I cannot take abroad?

Can I receive academic credit for an internship abroad?

Are there any in-residence requirements I need to be aware of before I go abroad?

Meet With the Study Abroad Office

Meet With the Study Abroad Office

Meeting with a Peer Advisor

Peer Advisors are ASU students who have studied abroad on various types of programs and who are here to help you get started on a journey of your own! They are prepared to help you understand the different types of programs offered, narrow down your program options, guide you on the application process, discuss program costs, and speak about student life abroad.

Meeting with an International Coordinator

Your International Coordinator can answer your questions about specific programs, can talk you through the application process, and can help you find funding resources for your particular program on the Study Abroad Office website. Your International Coordinator is happy to meet with you multiple times to answer your questions, and he/she would be glad to schedule meetings in person, by phone, or via Skype.

Find the name of your International Coordinator listed on the Study Abroad Office webpage for your program of interest.

Schedule an appointment online. Click on the International Coordinator name for your program of interest and follow the prompts to schedule your appointment.

Key questions to ask the Study Abroad Office

What is involved in the application for my program(s) of interest? Is admission to the program competitive?

How will I get ASU credit and grades for the courses I take abroad?

What courses are available on my program? How can I get courses approved for my program(s) of interest?

What is the cost of participating in my program(s) of interest? What do I need to consider in preparing an estimated budget for my program(s) of interest, and what expenses do I need to plan for up front?

Where can I find more information about scholarships for study abroad?

Research Your Funding Options

Research Your Funding Options

Studying abroad is an investment in your future. Like any other type of investment, it requires careful planning and management. However, the personal, academic, and professional rewards that you will gain from this experience will last a lifetime. You should carefully consider costs, budgets, and financing when selecting and preparing for your experience abroad.

Review Cost Sheet

You can find a link to your program’s Cost Sheet near the top of the Study Abroad Office webpage for your program. The Cost Sheet will highlight the costs that are billed to your student account as well as additional estimated costs that are not billed to your student account but that you might expect to spend while abroad. Be sure to note what expenses are included in the fees charged by the Study Abroad Office, and remember to budget additional money for airfare, passport and visa fees, and personal expenses since these are not included in any Program Fee.

Research Funding

Once you have reviewed the Cost Sheet for your program and are aware of the costs you might expect to spend on your program, you can begin to make a plan for financing your study abroad program. You can receive funding for studying abroad through financial aid, scholarships and grants, and community-based fundraising efforts. We encourage you to:

Financial Aid

We encourage you to speak to a Financial Aid Counselor, who can help you figure out how your financial aid might be applied to our study abroad program. Be sure to seek answers to the following questions from a Financial Aid Counselor:

How do loans work for study abroad? What kinds of aid/loans do I currently receive, and are there any restrictions on this aid if I study abroad?

Have I reached the maximum of (insert name of) loan allowed per academic year?

Major-Specific Scholarships

Community-Based Funding

Check out the Study Abroad Office website to learn more about community-based funding, including tips and tricks for crowd-source funding. There is funding out there… you just have to ask!

Attend Financing Workshop

Would you like help learning about your financing options? We offer bi-weekly in-person and online Financing Your Study Abroad Workshops. Join us in the MU on Monday afternoons or log in through Adobe Connect (register here) on Thursdays to learn how to finance your study abroad program through financial aid, scholarships and grants, and community-based funding.

“Studying abroad in Italy was the most valuable educational experience I’ve ever had. I made lifelong friends and got to study art in the Uffizi museum and literature near Dante’s home in Florence. Years later, I look back to studying abroad as one of the best times of my life.”

- Mollie Connelly-MacNeill, BA English Literature

Recommended Programs

Although English majors can participate in any ASU study abroad program, the Department of English recommends the following programs.

Short description: The Oxford Study Abroad program offers interdisciplinary study opportunities in the history and culture of medieval and Renaissance Britain. During the five-week program, students live in residence at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and attend lectures, both from an ASU and an Oxford professor. Weekly excursions include visits to cathedrals, museums, libraries, plays, or other relevant historical sites and cultural events around England.

Short description: Stay cool in Québec City this summer while earning 6 ASU French credits! Participants will live in a francophone home while taking French courses at Laval University, one of the oldest Francophone universities in North America. Québec City, the only walled city in North America, is so beautiful that it was declared an official historical monument by the United Nations.

Short description:One of the largest and best schools in Asia, Yonsei offers a multitude of courses taught in English and Korean across many disciplines. This program is especially good for Linguistics students.

Short description: For five weeks, live and study at Harlaxton Manor, a 100-room mansion in the rolling hills of the English midlands, while reading classic works of English literature. Day-long and overnight excursions to locations across England offer students further insight into the literature they read (including walks in the Lake District and a Shakespeare performance at London’s Globe Theatre), while the course schedule permits weekend travel across Europe.

Short description: Delve into New Zealand’s history, culture, and cinematic heritage, with an emphasis on Peter Jackson’s "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the RIngs" trilogy. The program features week-long stays in three of New Zealand’s major cities on both the North and South Islands—Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown—and also includes visits to the "Lord of the Rings" magical filming locations of Hobbiton, Edoras, Mordor, Rivdendell in Tongariro National Park and the Mavora Lakes region, among others.

Short description: The University of Manchester, originally founded in 1851, is the largest of England's great civic universities. Take Creative Writing and Literature courses while experiencing the bustling city of Manchester.

Short description: Spend five weeks in Merida, Mexico learning Spanish in the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula. Merida, a pleasant and safe colonial city with a tranquil lifestyle and all modern-day conveniences, is the perfect place to study the Spanish language and Mayan culture. To maximize language immersion, students will reside with local Mérida host families, take classes with ASU instructors, and interact with local Merida experts in Mayan culture.

Short description: Live in Lyon for four weeks while focusing on language and culture. Students are enrolled with other foreign students in the Centre International d’Études Françaises (CIEF) at the University of Lyon located on the downtown campus along the Rhône River within walking distance of the city center.

Short description: Study and intern in London with CAPA internships available in businesses of every kind as well as nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations. Students who participate receive an unlimited Tube pass and work experience that provides strong professional and cultural foundations for the future.

Short description: This program explores the film and television industries, history, culture, and geography of Iceland, Ireland and Croatia through the global phenomenon of HBO's Game of Thrones. The program features 5 day stays in five major European cities - Reykjavik, Belfast, Dublin, Split and Dubrovnik - and includes visits to the filming locations for Winterfell; Kings Landing; Castle Black, the Wall, and lands beyond; Meereen; the Eyrie; the Iron Islands; and Blackwater Bay, among others.

Short description:Explore the literature and culture of Costa Rica with visits to places like Cahuita, Tirimbina Biological Reserve, Rio Sarapiqui, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Manuel Antonio National Park. Through the program, students will experience first-hand Costa Rican economics, politics, education, tourism, and culture and how the country's incredible biodiversity has influenced these aspects.